It’s a sad day in age when more people are capable of getting injured with a personal trainer than training by themselves. It has become all too easy to obtain certifications for personal training and the personal training industry is growing rapidly each year. As a matter of fact, www.careerexplorer.net rated personal training as the 7th hottest job of 2012! This being said, it is important to realize that not all personal trainer certifications are created equal. Also, just because you have a qualified certification doesn’t necessarily make you a good personal trainer. Generic health clubs are creating a bad image for trainers by hiring practically anyone off of the street who fits the image of someone who works out. Recently, a trainer at a local gym by me got fired because he had a past history of sexual harassment! Don’t they background check at these gyms anymore?? Here are a few things to look for when hiring a trainer:
Rule #1 If a trainer spends more time looking in the mirror at themselves than focusing on you, probably not qualified.
Rule #2 If you see a trainer at the gym walking around week after week, but never training anyone, there is most likely a reason for that.
Rule #3 If a trainer doesn’t know the difference between a quadricep and a hamstring, they aren’t qualified!
Rule #4 If it only took a trainer 30 minutes to study and pass an exam for their certification, they probably don’t have enough experience. I know that I wouldn’t allow a surgeon to cut me open if I found out that it only took them a week to get their license. Now, personal training can’t exactly be compared to what a surgeon does, but realize that an inexperienced trainer is capable of causing long-term injuries as well.
Rule #5 Just because a personal trainer has a strong knowledge of the human body doesn’t mean that they are good at training someone. Each body is different and you have to take into account injuries, health conditions, strengths, and weaknesses.
(THE BIGGEST RULE) –RULE #6 Just because they are working as a personal trainer for a company doesn’t automatically make them qualified!
There are a few things to look for when you decide to hire a trainer. Make sure they have a reputable certification and hopefully some college related courses as well. You should also watch how they train, and see that they are safe with their clients and that they are focusing on proper form. Find out how long they have been training for. You don’t want to be one of the trainer’s early learning experiences of what NOT to do. Last, ask their clients. If all of the clients are satisfied with their trainer, you have most likely made a good decision. Personal training should be an investment for less medical bills in the future, not the other way around. Trainers aren’t cheap, so make sure you are getting one who is worth your buck.
-Tom